Monday, April 29, 2013

House

Good morning, gentle readers.
Today, I am looking at a house. It's a three bedroom, two bath foreclosure near where I currently live. The photos the realtor has sent me look okay, although I already hate the carpet. It's a shade of chocolate brown that I don't care for, not with pale walls. So, if I buy it, the carpet will be the first thing to go.
Not that I'm really planning on buying it. I'm going into this with no expectations at all. I'm going to go into the house, poke my head into closets and under sinks, examine the back yard, take a gander at the foundations and the roof and then leave.
It's curious how this house has arrived in my life.
I have a friend, who was supposed to move to my city. She asked me if I would check out some neighborhoods where she was considering buying a condominium. I said, 'Okay!' and wound up driving around town, checking out condos, cruising through neighborhoods, assessing them.
It's amazing how judgemental one can become when considering a place to live.
This place looks nice, but the surrounding neighborhood is crap. That place had a nice neighborhood but the actual residence looked trashy. What are they using the HOA dues for?
I've met with a couple of realtors, taking a look at condos for Lisa, and randomly mentioned to one that I wouldn't mind setting down roots myself. Although not in a condo. I've done that and don't think I'll do it again.
So, fast forward a couple of weeks. I get a phone call out of the blue from one of the realtors who informs me of a house that's just come on the market. It's on this side of town, the owners just lowered the price and would I like to take a look?
Sure. Why not? I've got nothing to lose.
So, I'm off this afternoon to take a look at the place.
I've already driven through the neighborhood. It's decent enough. The houses are a mishmash of older and newer properties. There are no chain link fences with razor wire running along the top and the yards are fairly well maintained.
I think you can tell a lot about a neighborhood by how well the properties are kept up.
There is one house that is either being torn down or reconstructed. I honestly couldn't tell which, but it's down the street and I'm not too worried about it.
I like where I live at the moment. It's nice and my landlords are good eggs. But since this offer came, I have to admit to feeling itchy.
It would be nice to have my own place again. A proper house this time as opposed to a boxy little condo. So, I think I'll keep looking, even if the house today is a disappointment.
And if it isn't? If it's in decent shape on the inside, as well as the outside?
Who knows? Maybe I'll buy it.
If I do, I'm definitely changing the carpet.

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Who is this guy?

My name is George R. Shirer and I'm an author currently living in South Carolina.During my life I've done some interesting things: testified in a murder trial, worked as a professional fortune teller, accidentally peed on a bear.The list goes on and on.Here, I plan on sharing some things about myself, my life and my writing with you.Together we can, hopefully, discover the answer to the most important question in the world: what next?